Enstrom F28A accident near Celina, Ohio, September 18, 1988
On September 18, 1988 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Enstrom F28A (helicopter), registered N249Q, was destroyed in an accident near Celina, Ohio (Lakefield County). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 1988 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Celina, Ohio · Lakefield County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Enstrom F28A · all F28As on the register
- Registration
- N249Q · registry record · serial 284
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER 2 UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO TAKEOFF, THE PLT/OWNER TRIED A 3RD TAKEOFF IN HIS NEWLY PURCHASED HELICOPTER. HE RPRTD THAT DURING THE FIRST 2 ATTEMPTS TO TAKEOFF, HE COULDN'T SEEM TO GET 100% OF HIS LEFT PEDAL AUTHORITY. SHORTLY AFTER THE HELICOPTER BECAME AIRBORNE ON THE 3RD ATTEMPT, IT TURNED ABRUPTLY TO THE RIGHT, EVEN THOUGH THE PLT HAD THE LEFT PEDAL IN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED IN AN ANIMAL PEN AREA. THE PLT RPRTD THAT A NON-QUALIFIED PERSON HAD MADE A TAIL ROTOR PITCH ADJUSTMENT ON THE HELICOPTER PRIOR TO THE ACDNT FLT. THE PLT HAD ONLY 2 HRS OF FLT TIME IN THIS MAKE & MODEL OF ACFT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,645 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 1,569 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 410 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 28, 1988; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CQA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: CQA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 9,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from DAY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N249Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.